Pin-setting device.



J. HEINEMANN.

PIN SETTING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 22. I916.

1,230,898., Patented June 26, 1917.

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Patented June 26, 1917.

mm Vkid 3 w r w W m NR. 0 w m oN .TAKOB HEINEMANN, OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN.

PIN-SETTING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1917.

Application filed April 22, 1916. Serial No. 92,851.

To all whom it may concern:

. Beit known that 1, 5.41101; HEINEMANN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Oshkosh, in the county of Winnebago and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pin-Setting Devices, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pin setting devices for bowling alleys.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a pin setting device in which the pins are placed in an'inclined position on the device when the device isin its upper position and when the device is swung downwardly to its setting position the pins will be automatically swung to vertical position and rapidly and accurately spotted and deposited on the floor of the alle A 'further object of the invention is to provide a pin setting device in which means are provided for compensating for the wear of the pins in a manner not to interfere with the spotting of the pins in true position on the floor of the alley.

A further object of the invention is to provide a' pin setting device in which the counterbalance weights are located at points in the rear of the ball cushion thus eliminating possibility of injuring the balls or pins.

A further object of the lnvention is to provide a pin setting device having means for centrally positioning and firmly holding the device while the pins are being deposited on the floor of the alley.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pin setting device in which the pin holding ortion of the device may be adjusted a ter the device is attached to the alley to properly aline the pins on the spots.

A further object of the invention is to provide a pin setting device which is of simple construction, is strong and durable and is well adapted for the purpose described.

With the. above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved pin setting device and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in ,Whlch the same reference characters indicate the same parts-in all of the views:

Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 11 of Fig. 2 of a bowling alley provided with the improved pin setting device;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of .Fig. 1 showing the device in its upper position;

Fig. 3 is a Vertical sectional detail view, taken on a larger scale, of the device in its lowermost position; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail View taken on line 44 of Fig. 2. Referring to the drawings the numeral 8 indicates a bowling alley which in part comprises the fioor 9, the side walls 10 and the suspended cushion board 11 of ordinary construction. The improved pin setting device is mounted within the alley and comprises a triangular shaped main frame 12 formed in part of an angle iron front portion 13, cast iron side members 14, transverse frame members 15 and longitudinally extending frame members 16. The side members are preferably formed in two parts bolted together and the outer parts are provided with elongated slots 17 to receive the bolts 18 of the pivotal side arms 19. These arms extend rearwardly from the side members to points to the rear of and on opposite sides of the cushion board and at their rear ends are pivoted to the side walls 10 of the alley by pivot bolts 20. The opposite end portions of the cushion board are spaced from the side walls of the alley to permit the swing of the side arms 19 and the bolts 18 of said arms extend through the slots 17 of the side members to provide for adjusting the frame forwardly or rearwardly with relation to said sidearms to accurately spot the pins on the floor.

In order to properly position the frame with relation to transverse movement, positioning or wedge members 21 are mounted on the opposite sides of the alley and are inclined upwardly outwardly so that when to its upper position jecting from opposite sides of the frame, and then extend over pulleys 24 and 25 and then down to and are connected to a transverse weight beam 26. This weight beam extends transversely of the alley and is provided with a plurality of weights 27.

These weights are remov ably placed on the beam in small units-to permit the proper number of weight units to be mounted on the bar to counterbalance the weight of the frame when the pins are mounted therein. The weight units are removed or replaced by untying one of the knots 22 of one of the cables'and then slipping the weights on or off the beam.

The transverse and longitudinal frame members 15 and 16 form pin spaces 28 to receive supporting plates 29 and guide members 30 which form pin pockets. The supporting plates 29 rest upon the transverse frame members and are adjustably conneeted thereto by bolts 31 which extend through elongated slots 32 in the plates and through-the transverse members and have nuts 31 on their lower ends. The forward edge portions 33 of the supporting plates are segmentally curved to conform to the body portions of the pins 34. The guide members 30 are formed of sheet metal and are also segmentally curved to conform to the shape of the pins and form in connection with the plate approximately complete circular pocket openings through which the pins pass in being spotted on the floor. The upper portions 30 of the guide members are of less diameter than the lower portion to fit the heads of the pins and aline them in vertical position. These guide members 30 have their side portions bolted to the sides of the longitudinally extending frame members 16 by bolts 35.

A tilting frame 36, formed of longitudinal and transverse rods 37 and 38, is mounted onthe upper ends of upstanding arms 39 which are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the longitudinal frame members. These transverse rods are positioned at the rear of each line of pin guides 30 and coact therewith in guiding the pins. A coiled spring 40 surrounding one of the pivot pins of the upstanding arms 39 and having one end connected thereto and the other end connected to one of the arms 39 serves to normally yieldingly hold the tilting frame in its uppermost position. A trip dog 41 pivotally mounted on the frame is provided with a hook portion 42 at its upper end which engages one of the transverse rods 38 of the tilting frame 36 and holds said frame in its lowermost position.

A coiled spring 43 holds said dog yieldingly in frame engaging position so that when said tilting frame is tilted downwardly, rearwardly it will be automatically engaged andheld by he trip dog. The lower end said dog is disengaged from the tilting.

frame.

In operation the pin frame is normally held in its upper position by the counterbalance weights as the said frame is of less weight than the counterweights when relieved of the weight of the pins.

lVhile in an upper position the tilting frame is swung rearwardly into engagement with the trip dog and the pins are then placed in an inclined position in their respective pockets with their heads resting on the transverse rods of the tilting frame. When all of the pins are in position the frame and the pins will balance the counterweights and a slight push will swing the frame downwardly and the trip dog into engagement with the floor. This engagement will cause the dog to release the tilting frame and the spring thereof will swing the tilting frame to its upper position. The pins will be tilted to upright position by the upward movement of the tilting frame and will then drop through the frame and on the floor in upright position. The pin frame will now be relieved of the weight' of the pins and the counterweights will swing the frame to its upper position and the same operation may be repeated.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the pin setting device is of very simple construction and is well adapted for the purpose described.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A pin setting device, comprising a frame having pockets for holding pins in substantially horizontal position, side arms connected to the frame and extending rearwardly therefrom, means pivotally connecting the rear ends of the side arms to the side walls of a bowling alley, cables connected to the front portions of the pin frame and extending rearwardly and downwardly beyond the rear end of the frame, a transverse beam connected to the rear end. portions of both of said cables, a plurality of weights mounted thereon and exerting an equal pull upon both cables for holding the pin frame normally in its 'upperposition and against torsional strain, a pin engaging tiltable frame mounted on the pin frame, means exerting a tendency to maintain the tiltable frame in upright position, a trip dog pivoted to the pin frame for holding the tiltable frame in its lower position and having a downwardly extending portion for engagement with the floor of the alley to release the tiltable frame when the pin frame is swung to its lower position, and a spring for yieldingly maintaining the trip dog in frame engaging position.

2. A pin-setting device, comprising a pin frame formed, in part of transverse and longitudinal members, curved guide members mounted between the longitudinal members, supporting plates adjustably mounted on the transverse members and guided by the longitudinal members, said guide members and supporting plates forming pin pockets for holding pins in an inclined position, a pin engaging tiltable frame mounted on the pin frame, spring means exerting a tendency to maintain the tiltable frame in upright position, a trip dog pivoted to the pin frame for holding the tilting frame in its lower position and having a downwardly extending portion for engagement with the floor of the alley to release the tilting frame when the pin frame is swung to its lower position, and spring means for yieldingly maintaining the trip dog in frame engaging position.

3. A pin setting device, comprising in part a pin frame having curved pockets for holding pins, side arms connected to the frame and extending rearwardly therefrom, means pivotally connecting the rear end portions of the side arms to the side walls of a bowling alley, and wedge members interposed between the side arms and the side walls for "guiding and holding the pin frame in a central position.

4. A pin frame for a pin setting device, comprising transverse and longitudinal members joined together in spaced relation to form a V,shape frame, a V-shaped angle iron front edge portion connected to the members, twopart side members connected to the rear corner portions of the frame, the outer portions of said side members having elongated slots, curved guide members positioned between some of the longitudinal members, supporting plates adjustably mounted in a fixed position on the transverse members, said guide members and supporting plates forming pin pockets, a tiltable frame pivotally mounted on the pin frame for moving pins from a substantially horizontal position to a vertical position, means for normally holding the tiltable frame in its upright position, and a trip dog for releasably holding the tiltable frame in its lower position.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

JAKOB HEINEMANN. 

